Calhoun County board of education met Monday, 6 p.m., at Mt. Zion.

Director of supportive services Frank Tetrick told the board that the current phase of construction at Pleasant Hill School should be complete by the end of November.  He said that the school will find out in January about SBA funding for the second phase of construction.

Tetrick informed the board that all hardware for the security systems for schools has been installed and is functional. The security systems will take effect after the first of the year.

Superintendent Roger Propst said that the state superintendent’s office has recommended a more lenient attendance policy during the influenza season.

With “flu-like illnesses” during the 2009-10 school year, students can miss five days with a written parental excuse, and possibly with more than one occurrence.

CM/HS semester test policy was amended to six excused absences per semester and eight excused absences prior to examinations, if the student has an “A” grade. The board approved the recommendation.

Director of school improvement Carla Taylor presented the 2009 West Virginia Title I Distinguished Award to Pleasant Hill School representatives Amber Price, Lori Parsons and principal Bob Bonar.

New business approved included the following:

--Volunteer agreements, Heidi Allen, Marcia Freeland, Rebecca Gipson, Cathy Hall, Melissa King, Christina Neely, Martha Settle, Jody Siers, Shelia Hall, Barbara Simmons, Alicia Swearengin, Stephanie Allen, Dawn Burris, Arnoldsburg;

Angela Dye, Patrick Dye, Patricia Hall, Melissa King, Angie Slider, Kandas Smith, Marsha “Dee” Starcher, Larry Baker, Stephanie Allen, Agnes Bever, Dawn Burris, CM/HS.

--Home school request, parent, Amanda Metz, 3rd grade.

--Instructional Support and Enhancement (ISE) Day for Dec. 24 was changed to the following evenings at Calhoun County schools: Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, Arnoldsburg; Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, Pleasant Hill; Dec. 1 and Dec. 17, CM/HS.

Personnel items approved:

--Employment, Brooklyn Talley, Heads Up student tutor, Pleasant Hill; Gina Cano-Stump, Heads Up teacher, Pleasant Hill; Bryan Sterns, mentor for principal, Pleasant Hill; Nancy Sams, counselor, CM/HS; Sallie Chapman, tutor coordinator, CM/HS.

--Substitute teachers, Andrew Smith, Daniel Hill, Shelia Wilson, Melanie Henderson, Susan Carper.

--Retirement, Margaret Bennett, technology integration specialist.

--Job posting, substitute after-school site/tutor coordinator, CM/HS.

--Prior service credit, Althea Elaine Miller, 29 years.

--Transportation request, Washington, D.C., 8th grade students, May 3-5, Kristin Smith, charter buses.

Finances approved: invoices, $830,379.51; carryover supplements, $3,840,060; transfers, $444,427; October financial statement.

Board concerns included:

--Cynthia Dale said that when principals look over a teacher’s lesson plans, the principal should have feedback or comments, instead of just checking the teacher’s plans.

--Propst told board members that the road to the board of education office will be paved in the spring. He also said that he was pleased with the hiring of new counselor Nancy Sams for CM/HS.

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Next regular board meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m., at Mt. Zion.